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Genia Dalton, left, Melissa Neal, Vivian Dalton, and Tasha Neal discuss what they think happened the night their family members drowned.
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Family members cope after drowning
CEMENT – After three men drowned in Lake Burtschi last weekend, their mourning families and friends want people to know the story.
Just days after their deaths family members gathered to talk about the tragedy. They talked about the impact on their families and on the city of Cement. All three men were from the small town west of Chickasha.
"You can't plan ahead for this, and just know that you're gonna have to take this minute by minute...one step at a time," said Vance Self, a family friend.
According to police reports, the three men -- Bradley Randal Graham, Jimmy Neal and Danny Paul Smith -- left the shore in a 12-foot aluminum boat. Only minutes after heading out, family members began to hear cries for help coming from the water.
Too Dark to See
It was so dark Friday that they could not see any signs of the men, except for a flashlight floating in the water.
When they began to hear the screams, Smith's wife Geneia Dalton and others ran to the shoreline but could do nothing but peer into the darkness.
Dalton's son Dakota, 12, called 911 from a cell phone. Since Friday he has been having a rough time.
The trauma of hearing his father scream for help will haunt him for some time to come.
"My son can still hear them hollering," Dalton said.
Said Shelf: "It's a sound they won't forget."
The men drowned in about 20 feet of water. They were not great swimmers, nor did they have life jackets.
What exactly happened is unknown, but Melissa Neal speculates that her husband Jimmy attempted to swim to safety. His body was recovered some distance from the sunken boat. Graham's and Smith's bodies were found next to each other and next to the boat.
"I really believe Brad tried to save Danny, because they were so close," Dalton said.
Funeral arrangements have been set for this week.
Neal was laid to rest Wednesday.
Services for Smith will be today, and Graham will be buried in his hometown of Red Oak, Iowa, on Friday.
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Transformations
What comes to mind when you think of the word, “Transformation”?Do you have fantastic thoughts of people or things changing into something amazing for example, Clark Kent turning into Superman or Bruce Banner becoming the Incredible Hulk or possibly something a little more down to earth like a caterpillar miraculously changing into the beautiful butterfly?
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GRADY COUNTY FAIR RESULTS
Plants
Potted Plants
(Several varieties combined)
First: (Adult) Ann O'Bar
Second: (Adult) Joyce Riker
Third: (Adult) Jallane Link -
AROUND THE AREA
SEPTEMBER 2
Poetry Reading
• When: Sept. 2, 7 p.m.
• Where: Eduardo’s Mexican Restaurant, Private Room, 3127 S. 4th St., Chickasha
• Details: Featured Poet is Carol Hamilton, writer, storyteller and Poet Laureate of Oklahoma 1995-97Hamilton’s website is www.carolhamilton.org. There is no admission fee to attend the Poetry Reading, and refreshments are available for purchase. For more information, contact Rockford Johnson, 224-0160 or 317-7506. -
Duncan nips Chicks for straight-game win
Duncan got their eighth match win of the season Tuesday, beating Nancy Waters’ Lady Chicks in straight games at the Activity Center.
The Chicks looked like they had a little hangover from Monday night’s tough road loss at Tecumseh, coming out flat again and dropping their first two games by identical 25-17 scores.
They came out firing on all eight cylinders for game three, running out to a 15-9 lead on the strength of a 7-0 run with Shelby Crosley serving, but the Demons battled back to tie it late and the Chicks let it slip away, 25-21. -
STATE SPORTS BRIEFS
NORMAN (AP) — Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops has named walk-on Patrick O'Hara as the starting place-kicker for the seventh-ranked Sooners.
Stoops said on his radio show Tuesday night that O'Hara won the competition with Jimmy Stevens, freshman Michael Hunnicutt and redshirt freshman Bryce Easley. -
OSU's Gundy still learning on job
STILLWATER (AP) — Mike Gundy hasn't lost his love for dialing up the right play to keep Oklahoma State's offense purring along.
That passion, which he has called the most enjoyable part of his job as head coach, was bred into him as an offensive coordinator. And he is a former starting quarterback for the Cowboys. -
Whimsical metal work, jewelry part of big art show at USAO
A showing of whimsical metal work and jewelry is scheduled to be on display at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma during Helen’s Show Sept. 10-Oct 1.
The show will feature the work of USAO graduate Helen Shafer. The exhibition will be open daily during normal business hours in the Davis Hall Third Floor Art Gallery on the USAO campus. The show is free and open to the public. An opening reception is scheduled Sept. 10 at 6 p.m. in the gallery. -
High-speed chase lands 1 in jail
A high-speed motorcycle chase down Highway 81 last Wednesday landed a Ninnekah man in jail and a felony charge of eluding a police officer.
Court records show that James William Hutchins, 21, blew by Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper Timothy Parrish at U.S. Highway 81 and County Road 1460 and was clocked going 144 miles per hour in a posted 70 miles per hour zone.
Parrish reported that he was sitting stationary at that location at about 3:45 p.m. on Aug. 25 when he observed a red motorcycle traveling southbound. He engaged his emergency lights and siren and pulled onto the roadway behind the Triumph motorcycle. -
5 inmates denied parole
Parole was recently denied for five Grady County inmates serving sentences with the Oklahoma Department of Corrections.
The following individuals were denied at the August Pardon and Parole Board meeting:
• Jeremiah Daniel Cline, who is serving a five-year sentence for distribution of a controlled dangerous substance and a five-year sentence for possession of a controlled dangerous substance, began his sentence in August 2008.
• Warren P. Diego, who is serving a 15-year sentence (10 years PTS) for lewd molestation, began his sentence in February 2009. -
Judge recuses herself from pharmacy case
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — A state district judge has stepped aside from the first-degree murder trial of a pharmacist accused in the fatal shooting of an unconscious would-be robber.
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Transformations
